Samuel lorenz



E. J. LORENZ.

FLOAT GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 19H.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR EQZZJarwzz/ ATTORNEY E.J.'L0RENZ.

FLOAT GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 18,191?.

1 ,$23,882. Patented Dec. 2, 1919..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,.

lNvENToR WITNESSES APYPLICATION, FILED 1ULY IAB. |917- E, J. LORENZ!FLOAT GAGE.

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

SHEETS-SHEET s.

WITNEssEs n ATTORNEY INVEN'roR UNITED STATESPATENT oFFIoE.

ELMER J. LORENZ, OF HOWELL, MICHIGAN; -SAMUEL LORENZ, EXECU'IOR 0F SAIDELMEB LORENZ, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO ED. LORENZ, OF EASBY, NORTH DAKOTA.

FLOAT-GAGE.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be yit known that I, ELMER J. LoRnNz, a citizen of Austria, residi AatHowell, in

the county of Livingston an State of Michigan, have invented new anduseful Im rovements in Float-Gages, of which the ollowin is aspecification.

his invention relates to improvements I in indicating devices forvliquid containers,

- and an indicating unit which ma be located in any convenient position,as or instance on the dash of an automobile.

A further intention is to provide in such.

a gage means whereby a signal-will be actuated upon the liquid in thetank attaining a predetermined low or high level.

. also propose to provide a device for setting the instrument toindicate such high orv low level, which wilh revent change of thesetting by an unaut ized person; and further, to make provision for theeiiective display of visual signals to indicate the level eitherduringthe day or after dark.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear upon examinationof the drawings and the accompanying specification and claim, I haveembodied my invention in the. form described below and delineated, inthe drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of thetank with the device in section therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the current distributing element. v

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view of the indicator.

Fig. 4 illustrates the exterior of the indicator in jp-lan. Y I

Fi `shows the indicator in plan with the ace removed to expose theinterior.

Fig.6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the float of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing electrical connections.

Fig. 8 is a bottom lan of the tube. I

Referring to the rawings more particu- Speocation of Letters Patent.

` larly, the gage comprises a current distributing or actuating device 1adapted for insertion in a tank o r other iuid receptacle, and anindicating device 2 adapted for mounting'upon the dash of an automobileor in any other convenient and readily observable 1location.

As here shown, the actuating device 1 is provided for vattachment to atank with an attaching member 8 having -an annular shoulder 4 adapted tobe soldered, riveted, or otherwise secured to the top wall of a tank 5,and having a collar 6 upstanding therefrom, formed externally with screwthreads 7, and internally with a bore adapted to receive the extremityof a tube 8, which may extend downwardly throu h an opening formed inthe top of the tank.

For .closing the upper end of the tube, a ca p 9 is provided, adapted toseat against and i'o-rm a tight joint with the top of the collar, andhaving a shoulder extending within the tube adjacent the wall thereof.

container for the distributing element is here shown as Aa cylinder 11positioned upon the cap 9`concentrically thereto and formed exteriorlyat the extremity adjacent the cap with a flange, and at the otherextremity with screw threads constituting attaching means for a cap forprotection of the distributer. A locking means for securing the variousparts together consists in the present instance of an annular member 12,formed with screw threads adapted to engage the threads 7 on the collar,and having a lip for engagement with the flange of the distributercontainer, whereby the container, cap 9, and attaching member 3 may bedrawn tightly together.

Within the container 11 is a contact supporting element, comprising inthe present instance, a cylindrical body 1 4 of insulating' material,adapted to be maintained concentrically to the container by an upper anda lower annular shoulder. Embedded in the surface 'of the upper shoulder14 is an annular row of contact kstuds 15, each stud having aprolongation .extending into the space '16 intermediate ofthe shouldersfor con- Patented Dec.2, 1919.

Application med Juiy is, 1917. serial No. 181,370.

`18'vfor leading out the conductors 17, and

this opening may be conveniently provided with an insulatin shortcircuiting o the conductors should the insulation become worn.

For engagement with the contact studs 15, a spring contact arm 19 isrov'ided, at-

tached for rotation to a spind e 20 extending downwardly into the tubethrough a bore, wherewith the body 14 and the cap 9 f' are formed. Afloat 21, of cork or other material such as commonly used for suchpurposes, is inserted in the tube 8 for vertical through an arc equal tothat between adjacent contacts upon `adding to or subtracting from thecontents of the tank a unit quantity 0f liquid.

For preventing rotation of the float 21 in the course ofv a verticalmovement, guiding means shown as rods 24are provided within thecylinder, adapted to' engage suitable slots or openings 24, wherewiththe fioat may 'be44 formed lon tudinally. The rods 24 are screw threadeinto the shoulder 10 of the cap at. the up er extremities, and havethreaded upon die lower ertremities clamping means shown as nuts wherebya perforated plate 26 is held in engagementwith the lower end' of thetube to lock the latter .in Iposition. The plate 26 is further formed`centrally with a recess or bore 27 constituting a journal for the lowerextremity of the spiral memberv22. v

The indicator 2 has a cyllindrical body 28, adapted to enter arecessformed in the'dash vof an automobile or other convenient loca-4 tion andhaving a iian 29 adapted tocoincide with the face o the dash and to beattached thereto b any suitablemeans such as screws inserte inopeningswherewith the flange 29 may be formed.` A disk 30'of insulating materialis insertedin the cylinby screws or an der to form a rear wall, andmaybe retained devicesll Within the body 28`is .a s ring contact arm 31,mounted upon' as in eiextending throu han opening forme in the insulat-`mg'd1sk 30.v Toward the outer extremity, the contact arm 31 is providedwith a receptacle32 adapted to retain aminature .elec-A tric lamp l33,whereby one terminal 33gof n the lamp establishes" connection with Vthebushing 18', to prevent' other convement securing i masses contact armwhile the other terminal 34 is i positioned for successive engagement ina rotative movement of the arm 31 with a lurality of contact studs 34inserted in the isk 30. The contact studs 34 are equal in number to thedistributer contacts 15 .and each stud 34 is provided with suitablemeans t conthrough a conductor 17, such mieans being here shown asprolongations of the studs 34 extending through the disk 30 and adaptedto constitute binding posts.

Suitable spacers 35 are positioned on the spindle between the contactarm and the disk, and externaly of the disk, a spring 35 is providedembracing the spindle, whereby longitudinal movement of the spindle ispermitted, and the spindle is placed in good electrical connection witha conducting strip 36 extending acrossvthe disk for connection, to asuitable binding post 36. One terminall of a source of electrical energy37 suitable for energization of the -lamp 33 is connect'- ed` to the'binding post 36, and the other terminal is tor 38.

grounded on the distribute/r7.1 in any convement manner, as by aicond'u" .nection to a respective distributer1 contact 15 The indicatoris provided with t' face 39 of glass or other trans arent or translucentmaterial, and is forme with an opening 40 for insertion of a key 41adapted to'engage a prolongationvof the spindle 32v for-manual rotationof the contact arm. A\ .For prevent in fracture of the face' I m yprovide on @it er Side of the fate a isk 4% formed with an o eningcoincident with t e opening 1n thev ace, and may further utilize theouterdisk to indicate the particular distributor v,

contact 15 with which the contact arm is in connection', by means ofnumerals inscribed on the disk, wherewith a pointer on the key isadapted to coincide. To secure the disks in position, I may employ abushin 43 insert- `ed inthe opemngsin the face an disks and having arolled 1i at either extremity for en gement witht e respective disk.

he face is preferably ofrub)1 colored Vmaterial, as' more readilyattractmg attention when iilluminated in the daytime, and

linscribed thereon are numerals 44 `corresponding in location to thecontact studs, and adapted to. be illuminatedv by' the lamp to show theparticular distributer-oontact 1 !5 with which the' contact arm 31may-'be connected, and thereby indicate the quantity of. gasoleneor'other liquid in the tank.

'WhileI'have here shown and described. 'the preferred form of minvention'for purposes of` illustration, suc embodiment' is not to beinterpreted as in any way limiting the' spirit ofthe invention, suchlimitation being accompanyin" 'claim.' Y What I cl'algm is 4ccnined tothat indicated by thevscope of the An indicator comprisinlgbanyinsulated Mic base,v av casing supported by the base, a series ofcontacts carried by the base, an arm A rotatably mounted in the base andinsulated therefrom, a lamp mounted in the free end of the arm a'ndhaving its respective terminals ine1ectrica1 contactl with the armandwith the base carried contacts, a transparent cover for the casing;through which the lamp is visible, indicating marks arranged on saidcover, and means for normally op- 10 erating the arm from beyond thecover.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELMER J. LORENZ.

